The Coral Kingdom

The next day, Aronnax woke up. His head felt very clear. Aronnax was surprised because he was in his own room. Ned Land and Conseil were in their own cabin too. None of them knew what happened during the night. Aronnax wanted to solve this mystery (something that is very difficult to understand). Aronnax left his room. He was not a prisoner. Aronnax went up the stairs to the platform (the flat, top part of the ship). The doors were open today. Ned Land and Conseil were waiting for Aronnax there. Aronnax asked Ned Land and Conseil many questions. They did not know anything. They fell into a very deep sleep the night before. They woke up in their cabin and felt very confused. The Nautilus moved slowly on the water. Everything on the ship looked normal. Captain Nemo did not come to the platform. Only a quiet steward (a person who serves food and cleans) served Aronnax. At two o’clock, Aronnax was in the drawing-room. Aronnax worked on his notes. Suddenly, Captain Nemo opened the door and entered the room. Captain Nemo looked very tired. His eyes were heavy because he did not sleep. His face looked very sad. Captain Nemo walked across the room many times. He picked up a book and then put it down. He looked at his instruments but he was restless. Finally, Captain Nemo went to Aronnax. "Are you a doctor, M. Aronnax?" Captain Nemo asked. Aronnax was very surprised by this question. Aronnax did not answer for a moment. "Are you a doctor?" Captain Nemo asked again. Aronnax said he was a doctor at a hospital for many years. Captain Nemo liked this answer. He asked Aronnax to help one of his men. Aronnax followed Captain Nemo to a small cabin near the sailors. A man lay on a bed. He was about forty years old. He was a strong man, but he was very hurt. The man was not just sick. He was wounded (hurt by a weapon or an accident). There were bloody bandages (strips of cloth used to cover a cut) on his head. Aronnax took off the bandages. It was a terrible wound. The man's skull was broken. Aronnax could see the man's brain. Aronnax felt the man’s pulse (the beat of the heart felt in the wrist). The beat was not regular. The man's hands and feet were cold. Aronnax knew the man would die soon. Aronnax put the bandages back on the man's head. He looked at Captain Nemo. "How did this happen?" Aronnax asked. Captain Nemo did not give a clear answer. He said an engine part broke and hit the man. Captain Nemo asked if the man would live. Aronnax said the man would die in two hours. Captain Nemo was very sad. Aronnax saw tears in Captain Nemo’s eyes. Aronnax stayed and watched the dying man. The man was very pale. Captain Nemo told Aronnax to leave the room. Aronnax went back to his own room. He felt very worried and he did not sleep well. The next morning, Aronnax went to the top of the ship. Captain Nemo was already there. Captain Nemo asked Aronnax to go for a walk under the water. Ned Land and Conseil wanted to go too. They all put on their cork jackets (special coats that help a person stay safe in water). They were ready at eight o’clock. Captain Nemo and twelve men went into the water. They walked down to the bottom of the sea. This place was different from other places. There was no sand or grass here. Instead, there was a coral (a hard substance made by small sea animals) forest. The coral was beautiful. It looked like colorful trees and flowers. Some parts were red and some were white. Some coral looked like living plants. When Aronnax tried to touch them, they closed quickly. This coral was very expensive. In a city, this coral would cost a lot of money. The group walked deeper into the sea. They were now 300 yards under the water. The trees of coral were very large. There were many long plants between the trees. They walked under the high branches in the dark water. Their lamps made the coral look like fire. Captain Nemo stopped in a large open space. Four men carried a long object on their shoulders. Aronnax saw a cross made of coral. It stood on some rocks. One man started to dig a hole with a pickaxe (a heavy tool used for breaking rocks). Aronnax understood everything. This place was a cemetery (a place where dead people are buried). The long object was the body of the man who died. The crew put the body into the grave. The body was in white cloth. Captain Nemo and his men knelt down to pray. The men filled the grave with stones. Then Captain Nemo and his men stood up. They all said a last goodbye to their friend. The group walked back to the Nautilus. They walked through the coral forest and went up to the ship. They returned at one o’clock. Aronnax went to the top of the ship. He felt very sad. Captain Nemo joined Aronnax. Aronnax asked if the man was now in the coral cemetery. Captain Nemo said yes. He said the coral would grow over the grave and stay there forever. Captain Nemo said his men sleep quietly there. Aronnax said the dead men are safe from sharks. Captain Nemo looked at the sea. "Yes," Captain Nemo said. "They are safe from sharks and they are safe from men."

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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea

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